Overcome Postpartum Depression

Overcome Postpartum Depression

A mother will always do her best to fulfill the needs of her family. Every time we ask for motherly support, she consistently portrays her strongest and bravest character to show how responsible she is as a mother. But little did we know, despite the strength, at times she felt feel drained and empty inside, and worst, doubting her nature as a mother. This depression engulfed in them creates a significant impact on their physical and mental health. So help them and make them feel loved and important.

According to the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Postpartum” means the time after childbirth. Most women get the “baby blues,” or feel sad or empty, within a few days of giving birth. For many women, the baby blues go away in 3 to 5 days. If your baby blues don’t go away or you feel sad, hopeless, or empty for longer than 2 weeks, you may have postpartum depression. Feeling hopeless or empty after childbirth is not a regular or expected part of being a mother.

Postpartum depression is a serious mental illness that involves the brain and affects your behavior and physical health. If you have depression, then sad, flat, or empty feelings don’t go away and can interfere with your day-to-day life. You might feel unconnected to your baby, as if you are not the baby’s mother, or you might not love or care for the baby. These feelings can be mild to severe.

As a first-time mother, I never get away with postpartum depression. It took me months to overcome this situation, those months which were extremely dark for me. The first month after childbirth, I cried a lot. I overthought. I was clouded with negativity, especially when my husband was not around and when anxiety attacks. I stop reaching out to anyone except the people I need some advice on the whole motherhood thing. I forced myself to shut down everything and spend my time nursing my child. Hence, I am near to losing myself. Most of the time, I hardly find a particular reason why I felt such breakdowns. I felt terrible for my husband, who has affected this motherhood stage; he could not understand me because I avoided connecting to him. This illness affects me in many ways, socially, physically, and mentally. Still, as the day goes by, I slowly recoup myself with the support of the people around me, especially by helping to pick up myself. 

As a mom who had these dark moments, I want to help you and fellow mothers surpass them by sharing a few things on how I overcome postpartum depression, and I hope this helps you.

Talk to your partner.

You may feel empty and lonely during these dark hours, but you still have to connect with your partner or husband. Thru this, it will help them to clear and understand your insights. Talking to them will also help you to relieve your breakdowns and muck in with you in the process of restoring yourself.

Talk to your family.

Your mom, dad, and siblings were also the people you needed during these moments. These people who know you will offer wisdom and inspiration that enlightens your soul. Your family is the closest person you can ask for advice about parenting, including motherhood.

Get some air and have a walk.

If you feel irritated, upset, lonely, maybe you need to breathe some air. There is nothing wrong with asking for a little "Me time". Walking in the park or just sitting on the bench in your garden to calm yourself, breathe, and organize your thoughts are just helpful activities to ease everything in your mind.

Do what you love.

Hobbies are some of the best ways to divert your thoughts. Any activity that makes you happy and builds positivity in yourself is an excellent way to avoid overthinking. Thus it will motivate you to do better not only for yourself but also for the people around you, and doing what you love will assist you in surrounding yourself and your family with a positive outlook.

Life has its way of testing us, mostly in our darkest moments. It tests our faith, patience, and kindness during the process. People will help you through the process, but what is essential is that you dare to get up and live. We have our way of dealing with different situations in life, but remember that giving up will never be the best solution. It does not matter if it will take time to regain yourself; what matters the most is you try and believe in yourself.